[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 23, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS:
  S. 447. A bill to deem as timely filed, and process for payment, the 
applications submitted by the Dodson School Districts for certain 
Impact Aid payments for fiscal year 1999; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.


                  dodson school districts legislation

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill that may 
not impact our nation but will have an impact on 120 students in my 
state of Montana. These students are victims of a bureaucratic 
bamboozle that should be an easily reconciled mistake.
  I would like to request the compassion of my colleagues. We all make 
mistakes and sometimes these mistakes have a financial cost to us as 
individuals. However, in the case of the Dodson Public School District, 
a misdirected application could result in a loss of impact aid funding. 
As you all know, Impact Aid funding is necessary for areas that have no 
local revenue raising mechanism.
  This application was inadvertently sent to the wrong office within 
the Department of Education by the deadline. Last year, we say how 
unbending the Internal Revenue Service was in terms of customer 
service--I would like to think the rest of the federal government does 
not follow suit. According to the Department of Education, deadlines 
are deadlines. During hearing last year, Congress determined this is 
not the culture we would like to see in the Department of Education or 
any other arm of the nation's federal government.
  The loss of funds would likely mean the demise of the entire public 
school system--a system that serves many residents of the Fort Belknap 
Indian Reservation. The economic state of Montana's reservations is not 
well and losing this school district would require many students 
additional transportation costs and travel of over thirty miles. 
Additionally, adjoining school districts and local governments would be 
extremely pressed to pick up the tab for additional education and 
transportation costs with much less proportionate revenue share.
  Dodson Public Schools in Dodson, Montana has a total enrollment of 
120 students in K-12. In grades K-8, 53% of the total 74 students 
reside on federal land. In grades 9-12, 31% of the total 46 students 
reside on federal land. Of the total enrollment, 75% of the students 
are eligible for our free and reduced lunch program.
  Mr. President, I'm certain you'll agree not many schools in America 
can rival the need for impact aid funds like Dodson's schools.
  Now that you know the facts, I think you'll agree we cannot ignore 
the plight of Dodson School District. This is a simple plea from a 
modest Montana community that would like to continue their rich, 
historic culture and legacy.
  Mr. President, as you know, it is the role of Congress to protect the 
students of our nation. This bill will fix an unfortunate situation 
that could happen to any state in our nation.
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